'Wonderful man' swept to his death

Leslie (Les) Wan Wong was swept about 500m into the sea at the mouth of Lake Onoke. PHOTO/ WAIRARAPA CAMERA CLUB

A man who died after being swept to his death at Lake Ferry in Wairarapa had always warned his sister to be careful when out fishing.

Leslie (Les) Wan Wong, 71, was swept about 500m into the sea at the mouth of Lake Onoke at about 2pm on Tuesday, and despite a brave rescue attempt by a fellow fisherman, could not be resuscitated.

Mr Wong is survived by his wife Yuen Ha, and children Sandra, David, Simon and Kirsty, their partners and his three grandchildren.

He was the youngest brother of Len, Daphne, Donald, Kitty and Jack. Mr Wong's older sister, Kitty Wong, said he had always been the one to warn her to be careful when fishing, and she was stunned by the news of his death.

He would be sorely missed, she said.

"He was hard-working and he loved his garden, loved his rhododendrons, and he loved his fishing."

Police confirmed on Tuesday that Mr Wong had been wearing a life jacket when he was swept into the water at the mouth of the lake and into the sea.

Familyand friends yesterday gathered at the retired market gardener's Greytown home, where family members said they were still trying to come to terms with the news.

Mr Wong's son, Simon, said his father was "a wonderful man".

Neighbours Bruce and Janice Slater said they were shocked by the news of Mr Wong's death.

"He was a great neighbour for 40 years. I've known him since school days and it's a bit of a shock, because he'd been whitebaiting down there for years - it's a real surprise," Mr Slater said.

"You couldn't get a nicer man."

With Mr Wong's years of experience, he would have done everything right, Mr Slater said.

"But you never know, do you - things can creep up on you . . . he's got to be pretty unlucky."

Mr Wong was a keen whitebaiter, he said.

"He loved his whitebait. It was his absolute passion."

Mr Wong, who was a member of the Wairarapa Camera Club, was also a "brilliant photographer", he said.

Mr Wong had attended Greytown School and Greytown District High School and later Kuranui College, Mr Slater said.

Wairarapa Camera Club secretary Tim McMahon said he would remember Mr Wong as a "smiling chap" who was always "bubbly".

Mr McMahon recalled bumping into Mr Wong when he was out whitebaiting and being surprised to learn he gave away most of his whitebait.

"That's the kind of guy he was ... The whole thing was just so fun for him."

Mr Wong was a regular participant in club events and competitions, except during the whitebait season, Mr McMahon said.

"Whitebait came first."

Former neighbour Enid Meyer said Mr Wong and his family had taken on the land across from the Meyer Brothers berry fruitgrowing business in the 1960s.

She said Mr Wong had been a hard worker, who looked after his family and was "always happy".

"I'd be lying in bed at 11 or 12 o'clock and he'd have the lights on the tractor getting ready to plough the ground -- he was a terrific worker."

Messages for the Wong family can be left on Leslie's tribute page at www.tributes.co.nz or sent to C/-PO Box 185, Carterton 5743.

Funeral details are yet to be announced.